Principal’s Corner – January Update

Welcome Back and Happy New Year! 🙂
It was a great first week back and our students and teachers are already hard at work! Here are some January Updates and Reminders:

Winter MAP Reports (Grades 1-5):
MAP reports for grades 1-5 went home with students on Friday. MAP data provides us with helpful information regarding a student’s academic strengths and areas for improvement in reading and math. Collaborative teams of teachers, specialists, and administrators use the MAP results and other data points to check the progress of individual students and groups of students for the purpose of making instructional decisions and adjustments. Please just let us know if you have any questions!

Erin’s Law – Week of February 4th-8th, 2018:
House Bill 6193, better known as Erin’s Law, was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on January 24, 2013. This law requires public schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for all students in grades Pre-K – 12. In District 181, we have adopted the Child Lures Prevention Curriculum to meet this mandate. Mrs. Neubauer and your child’s classroom teacher will be teaching a one-time, developmentally appropriate lesson during the week of February 4th, 2018.

The presentation incorporates concepts and skills taken from lessons within the Child Lures Prevention Curriculum that are developmentally appropriate based upon grade levels. The presentation was aligned with learning standards that focus on teaching students basic skills to help keep them safe from abusive or dangerous situations. The presentation emphasizes healthy and safe relationships through interactive activities and discussions. Some concepts discussed during the presentation includes:
Body Awareness Skills
Healthy Choices
Personal Boundaries
Appropriate Relationships
Safety Rules
Self-Advocacy Skills

We have also created a webpage specifically addressing Erin’s Law, with background information and an overview of the curriculum we have adopted. Visit www.d181.org > Resources > Erin’s Law.

Winter Weather Reminder:
We go outside for recess everyday if the temperature with the windchill is zero or above. All K-5 students wanting to play in the snow must wear snow pants, boots, hats, and gloves. Any child without proper winter attire will be limited to a designated snow-plowed area. Students may sled at recess time on assigned days.

Only plastic roll-up sleds that can fit in a student’s locker are allowed at school.

Students should play safely in the snow – only one person allowed per sled, no throwing snow, and students should walk back up the sledding hill.